Regulations.
Saint Paul Legislative Code § 376.10
in effectSec. 376.10. - Regulations.
(a) Trip sheets. Each and every taxicab driver must keep a trip sheet or digital log documenting the starting point and termination of each trip of such vehicle, the amount of the fare charged, whether upon the meter or hour basis, and the driver's name and number, which sheet or log must be retained by the driver of the vehicle if he or she is the owner thereof, and if he or she is not the owner, then the driver must deliver such sheet or log to the cab-owner, and in either case, such trip sheets or logs must be retained for a period of sixty (60) days; provided, that if such licensee is a member of a group operating as an association under the same name and colors, such trip sheet or log must be filed with the manager thereof at the office of such association. Such sheets or logs must be open to the inspection of the chief of police or his or her representatives at all times and failure to make and keep such trip sheets or logs will constitute a violation of this chapter and, in addition thereto, may be cause for the revocation of the vehicle license.
(b) License tags. The department will deliver to the owner of each taxicab a license decal that must be fastened and displayed on the outside of every licensed taxicab and plainly visible at all times. Said license tag may not exceed six (6) inches in the longest measurement, and must bear the license number of the taxicab and the proper descriptive words, including the year for which the license was issued, and such license tag must be of distinctly different color for any three (3) successive years. If any licensee loses a license or license decal, he or she must obtain a duplicate and pay a fee of $5.00 for each duplicate license or tag.
Every taxicab licensee who solicits or accepts business in the city must have the taxicab license number of said vehicle plainly painted in letters at least two (2) inches in height, with at least one quarter inch (¼) stroke, and proper and distinct colors on both sides of such taxicab and on the rear and approximately at the center thereof, and no other such number that would interfere with identification of the vehicle may appear on the sides or rear of such taxicabs.
(c) Transfer. No taxicab may be sold, leased or transferred except as herein provided nor may any licensed vehicle be operated by any other person than the licensee or his or her duly licensed driver.
(d) Scheduled rates only. No licensee, driver, employee or service company may charge any rate for the carrying of passengers in any licensed taxicab in excess of that set forth in section 376.15, and any deviation from such schedule by the licensee or any employee or service company is a violation of this chapter.
(e) Meters. No taxicab hired upon a meter basis may be operated when a taximeter is broken and out of order, or for any other reason does not correctly register the fare to be charged. All taximeters with which such taxicabs are equipped must be inspected by the inspector or his or her representatives before being placed in use under this chapter and are subject to his or her approval, and when so inspected, such taximeters must be sealed and a card or certificate showing inspection and sealing must be filed with the inspector at the time of the installation thereof. In the event any taximeter becomes broken or has to be repaired or does not register correctly, the same must be again inspected and again sealed, and a certificate or card of such inspection and sealing must be filed with the inspector.
(f) Computation of charges. When the charge is to be paid for on the meter basis, the charge must begin at the place where the passenger is received and will continue until he or she is delivered at his or her destination. When the charge is to be paid for on the hour basis, the time must begin when the automobile is ready at the time and place requested by the passenger and will continue until the taxicab has been released by the passenger; provided, that when any person engages or hires a taxicab equipped with a taximeter, unless otherwise agreed at the time of hiring, the fare for such taxicab must be determined and fixed by the taximeter according to rates provided for in this chapter; and provided further, that no taxicab driver may charge more for the use of said taxicab than is shown to be due by said taximeter thereon.
(g) Deceptive practices. No person owning or driving any taxicab may deceive any passenger as to his or her destination or the price authorized to be charged for such person, or convey such passenger other than as directed.
(h) Refusal of service; more than one (1) fare. No taxicab driver may refuse or neglect to convey any orderly person or persons upon request anywhere in the city, unless previously engaged or unable to do so, provided such person or persons agrees or agree to pay the legal rate of fare. No taxicab driver may carry any other person than the person first employing the taxicab without the consent of said passenger.
(i) Receipts. If requested, the owner, driver, chauffeur or person in charge or control of a taxicab must provide a receipt to the person paying for the hire. This receipt must contain in legible type or writing the name of the owner, the number of the meter, in case of an automatic receipt, or the taxicab license number, in the case of a written receipt, the total amount paid and the date of payment.
(j) Solicitation of passengers—Regulations for. No person may solicit passengers for a taxicab upon the streets and highways of the city, except the driver of a taxicab when sitting upon the driver's seat of his or her vehicle, or a starter for a hotel in a hotel entrance, but the fact that such vehicle displays a device to indicate that it is not engaged will not be considered as soliciting patronage. The driver of any taxicab must remain on the driver's seat or inside his or her vehicle at all times when such vehicle is standing upon the taxicab stands or when actually engaged in carrying passengers; provided, that nothing in this section will be held to prohibit such driver from alighting to the street or sidewalk for the purpose of assisting passengers into or out of such vehicle.
(k) Loitering. It will be unlawful for any person other than the taxicab driver or owner of a taxicab standing upon the public streets to loiter at, within or near any taxicab.
(l) False representations. It will be unlawful for any taxicab driver to misrepresent in any manner whatsoever the character of the business engaged in, or being solicited for, or to impersonate or attempt to impersonate any other taxicab driver, or to convey or transport persons to any place or destination other than as directed by the passenger.
No person having charge of soliciting patronage for any taxicab will, for the purpose of securing patronage, make any false representations concerning the ownership or employment of such taxicab.
(m) Manner of solicitation. It will be unlawful for any taxicab driver to solicit patronage in loud, noisy or boisterous tone of voice, or manner, or to lay hands upon the person or baggage of any person without the consent of such person, or to obstruct the movement of any person or to follow any person for the purpose of soliciting patronage.
(n) Interference with other drivers. It will be unlawful for any taxicab driver to scuffle or crowd about or to interfere with any other driver with whom any person is negotiating or inquiring about the transportation of persons or baggage.
(o) Use of cab for improper purposes. It will be unlawful for the taxicab driver to permit any person to occupy or use such vehicle for the purpose of prostitution, lewdness or assignation, or to direct, take or transport, or offer or agree to direct, take or transport, any other person with knowledge or reasonable cause to know that the purpose of such directing, taking or transporting is prostitution, lewdness or assignation.
Any violation of this paragraph by the taxicab driver is grounds for the revocation of any license issued for the operation of such vehicle.
(p) Lost articles. Whenever any package or article of baggage or goods of any kind is left in or on any taxicab, or when any such package or article is left in the custody of the driver of any vehicle, such driver must, upon the discovery of such package or article, forthwith deliver the same at the central police station of said city into the hands of the officer in charge of said station, unless such package or article may be sooner delivered to the owner thereof on order of said owner.
(q) Crowding prohibited. No taxicab driver or owner may permit or allow more persons to ride in such vehicle than is provided for by its normal seating capacity, nor may any taxicab driver or owner permit or allow any person to ride in the front seat of any such vehicle beside the driver while engaged in the business of carrying persons for hire at any time when there is unoccupied and available any seat in the rear of such vehicle, except persons with disabilities as defined in section 376.02 of this chapter. In no event may more than one (1) person, in addition to the driver, be permitted in the front seat of such vehicle.
(r) Employment of drivers. No person possessing one (1) or more taxicab licenses under this chapter may employ or contract with any other person for the driving or operation of any such taxicab without first making diligent inquiry into the character and background of such other person. Without being limited by reason of the specificity herein, such inquiry must include past employment, any relevant medical history, criminal convictions, addiction to or abuse of alcohol or any controlled substance, and any other matter relevant to the protection of the public health, safety and welfare, such that the public will not be unreasonably exposed to any danger in their use of taxicabs. In addition, effective January 1, 1991, and thereafter, no person possessing one (1) or more taxicab licenses under this chapter may employ or contract with any other person who does not possess all legally required licenses.
(s) Taxi stands. The director of the department of public works may from time to time, designate certain portions, other than sidewalks, of public highways in said city to be used and known as public taxicab stands. Such stands will be equally free and open to access to all vehicles whose owners are licensed under the provisions of this chapter. All such stands will be plainly marked as public taxicab stands. No motor vehicle other than a taxicab licensed for use of such stand may make use of any such public taxicab stand.
(t) Safe and legal operation. Every taxicab driver must operate his or her taxi in accordance with the laws of the state and the city, and with due regard for the safety, convenience and comfort of passengers and the general public.
(u) Driver appearance. Every taxicab driver, while on duty, must keep a clean and well-groomed appearance.
(v) Number to call. The license inspector must provide a card to be conspicuously placed in every licensed taxicab that must be plainly visible to passengers that identifies the number of the public information and complaints office and solicits the opinions of the public in regard to taxi service in the city.
(Ord 16-16, § 1, 7-27-16)
Source: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, City Charter, Legislative Code and Administrative Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITXXIXLI_CH376TA_S376.10REFetched: 11/1/2026